HR professionals records highest absenteeism rate in the UK workforce, new data reveals

London, 30 May 2025 – New data from employment and payroll platform Employment Hero has revealed that workers in the HR and accounting sector are experiencing the highest rates of absenteeism in the UK – with Gen Z workers away from work the most.

Analysis of Employment Hero’s anonymised data from over 105,000 employees found that the HR and accounting sector recorded an average Bradford Factor (a metric to measure employee absenteeism) of 113 – the highest across all industries. This contrasts sharply with sectors like education and training, which has an absenteeism score of  just 25.

The Bradford Factor is a formula used by companies to score an employee’s absenteeism, typically over a year.*

Understanding the Bradford Factor score
Score range	Interpretation
Low (0-50)	Considered acceptable, showing infrequent absence.
Moderate (50-100)	May raise concerns, prompting closer monitoring of absences.
High (100+)	Indicates a pattern of frequent absences, potentially leading to further action from HR.

Gen Z absent more than other generations of workers

Even more striking is the trend among younger employees in the HR space. Gen Z workers (aged 18–24) in this sector recorded an average Bradford Factor of 185 – a score typically considered high-risk and indicative of potential underlying wellbeing or engagement concerns.

Larger businesses see greater levels of absenteeism 

Absenteeism was found to be far more common in larger businesses. Companies with over 500 employees recorded an average Bradford Factor of 73 – more than double that of businesses with fewer than 20 staff (33). Full-time workers are also significantly more likely to be absent, with an average score of 48, compared to 37 for part-time and 18 for casual staff.

Junior workers absent more than senior roles 

When looking at seniority, junior and intermediate staff recorded the highest absenteeism scores (43 and 48 respectively), while director-level employees showed the lowest levels of absence, with a score of 23.

These findings come at a time when workforce wellbeing remains a critical business priority. Recent research from Employment Hero revealed that Gen Z are experiencing the highest levels of burnout, with 72% reporting symptoms over the past three months. 

Kevin Fitzgerald, UK Managing Director at Employment Hero, said:

“Sadly, the high rates of absenteeism are not surprising given the typically high workloads and stress many professionals experience, but these rates must be taken seriously.

“These numbers should prompt serious reflection across the industry. High absenteeism – especially among younger, more junior employees – suggests a disconnect somewhere in how we’re supporting early career talent.

“HR and accounting are the engine rooms of any business and the cost of lost time and productivity is significant. The health and wellbeing of these professionals underpins the health and wellbeing of the workforces they manage and support, so it’s vital professionals in HR and accounting get the help they need and these rates are reduced substantially.

“This is part of a wider challenge. Our latest Jobs Report shows Gen Z employment fell by 1.9% in April, with wages for this group also declining by 0.2%. These trends highlight a real risk of long-term disengagement and economic impact. Gen Z are the future of our workforce – and if we don’t act now to support them, the consequences could reverberate across the economy for years to come.”